For a Mediterranean island with good year round weather, a friendly local English speaking population and facilities to rival that of any of her competitors, Malta is a suprisingly often forgotten island for many people planning a holiday in the Mediterranean.
Malta missed some of her own governments tourist targets in 2005, but a recent visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh resulted in four days of positive media coverage in the islands most important market the United Kingdom and also in over 50 other countries attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, including Canada and Australia.
The Queen began her official visit to Malta before she opened the meeting, and was warmly greeted by friendly islanders.
Malta was governed by the British for a hundred and fifty years, and became independent in 1964. But the island has retained many British characteristics, including driving on the left, and British visitors account for nearly half of the islands tourists.
The George Cross ranks with the Victoria Cross as Britains highest award for bravery and Malta was awarded the Cross in 1942 by King George VI for the islands...